Nursery Jaunt: Garland Nursery

Most of you who read this are not local and therefore not familiar with my local plant shopping gigs. Garland Nursery is about a five minute drive from my home so I visit  here a lot, especially in spring when I'm in plant-shopping mode or just need some inspiration. Last week was my first visit of the season and I wasn't planning to take photos but changed my mind after seeing some really gorgeous (and expensive) pottery. 

The entrance.
There used to be a giant conifer growing right where the yellow-flowered
container is hanging but they had it removed a few years ago. I still miss it.

This Camellia caught my eye. Killer pink thing! I didn't get the name.

I always think of Mindy Northrop when I see Lewisia blooming.

If mine look half this good this year I'll be happy.

Love the Violas

And I think of Loree Bohl when I see an Agave.

I'm still not convinced that I like vertical succulents but this container was sure healthy.

I need another Semp like I need another hole in my head.
But aren't these pretty?

This one is fixing to have a litter.

I was tempted to get another variegated Knautia but
since I don't have good luck with them, I passed.

I kept waiting for a patron to run into the Monkey Puzzle. Ouch! 

This cute little Ilex was ready to be bonsaied.

I'm not a fan of Pieris but when I saw this burgundy-leaved one, I couldn't take my eyes off of it.

Another name that will confuse people. Is it a Katsura or a Pieris? Apparently both.

Spotting these Hesperaloes I was so glad I found them on clearance at Lowe's last fall...for five bucks.

Here's that stupid Saxifrage that I can't keep alive.

Such a sweet miniature meadow of blossoms.

Nope. Not going to buy it.

And of course, pink-flowering strawberry plants are always tempting,
but no.

These Ranunculus are nice to look at.

This white-flowered Dicentra was so elegant.

Why don't the leaves on my Saxifraga 'Maroon Beauty' look this fabulous?

After the harsh winter, all three of my Dieramas look questionable.
I was tempted by these replacement plants.

These Rosemary blossoms made me smile.

Here is the pot that caught my eye and heart.
I didn't even look at the price. I knew it was going to be outrageously costly.

Kudos to the potter who has perfected the process for this fantastic patina.
It's a moody surface with foreboding hints of rust and aged metal, but also of joyful bubbles on the beach.
Or at least that's how I see it.

And it seems to marry well with other pieces...

Other watchful eyes.

Here's another piece with the price tag.

And then I saw this fountain with a similar patina.

Someday I hope to win the lottery.

And of course, every nursery must have its whimsy.
A pink pig anyone?

Or how about a mother and child mountain goat ensemble?

And there was whimsy in small packages.

Apparently fairy gardens are still all the rage.

I'm always drawn to rusty metal so this flower caught my eye.
And the little critter sunning himself.

I was able to get really close. Check out his little hairs.
He couldn't have been more than a half-inch long but he still looks kind of menacing.

While looking things over in one of the hoop houses, I spotted this Annas hummingbird. I didn't know Pelargoniums had nectar. 

Can you see him/her?

I'm not a good photographer and snapped eight or ten photos, hoping for a at least one good one.

So what did I come home with? Here you go:

Clockwise from the top-left, Rhododendron macrosepalum 'Linear', Sidalacea cusickii,
Saxifraga oregana (on sale!), Saponaria 'Bressingham Pink', Delosperma and Gaura.

Admission: Garden Voyeurism (An Ongoing Issue)

RECENTLY LOREE OF Danger Garden fame, featured photos of a large agave growing on a meticulously groomed berm in Portland. It reminded me of a similarly-sized agave growing in a Corvallis yard, not quite so meticulous, as I discovered from my lunch-hour voyeurism. 

The house is located a stone's throw from the Oregon State University campus. Things in this area are,well,
relaxed. Notice the chair left in the driveway. This sort of thing is not uncommon around here.

I wish the owner would have emerged and given me a tour. As it was, I shamelessly clicked photos
while cars zoomed by on the busy street. This is a section of the tiny front yard.

Wait for it... Here it is, Loree! Just a peak while the neighboring fan palm vies for attention.
I didn't noticed until after uploading the photos that the mother agave has babies! 

Viola! Ain't she a dandy! She could use some clean up but, along this south-facing wall she's thriving.
Perhaps thriving a little too well since it's clear she's outgrown her post. 

Her babies, to the left with an unidentifiable succulent between them. 

No Danger Garden would be complete without an Opuntia grove. 

The view inside the fence. Try not to drool, Loree! Thems some dangerous looking spikes. 

The house color blends nicely with the Opuntia. Check out that cute cactus hiding behind the half eaten agave. 

An island bed posing as a "tropical" island maybe? 

And there you have it. A Danger Garden right in the thick of Corvallis culture. 

I had to photograph the building next door. I was half expecting Evita to
spring open the door and start singing. 

While on the subject of garden voyeurism, I had to include these last photos.
This is the largest Loropetalum I've seen. It grows just a few blocks from
the Danger Garden and is in full bloom. Lovely! 

To close, this is one of my smaller garden inhabitants. He's a little camera shy. 

As always,